Cyril Sidlow
Encyclopedia
Cyril Sidlow was a Welsh
football
goalkeeper. He played for several clubs, most notably for Wolverhampton Wanderers
and Liverpool
.
, Conwy
, North Wales
, Sidlow played for Llandudno, Colwyn Bay and Wolverhampton Wanderers
. Signed by Wolves in 1937 by the great Major Frank Buckley Sidlow was the first choice Wolves keeper both before the war. The rise of England great Bert Williams
at Wolves after the war limited his chances, this included a notable international match between England and Wales at Ninian Park where Wolves supplied both the England Keeper (Williams) and Welsh keeper (Sidlow). With Wolves having two international keepers this led to Sidlow being surplus to requirements, but a recognised international, Liverpool manager George Kay
signed him for a then record £
4000 in February 1946. Sidlow made his debut for Liverpool on 31 August 1946 in a league match at Bramall Lane
, and kept his first clean sheet for the club, with Len Carney
scoring a late goal for the Reds in the 90th minute.
Sidlow's career was curtailed because of the Second World War which began when he was approaching his 24th birthday, having taken away the best years of his career he was almost 31 when he signed for the Reds. Sidlow with Charlie Ashcroft
and Ray Minshull were the goalkeepers vying for the number one jersey at Anfield
for the 1946/47 season; the first competitive season following the war. Even with the competition, Sidlow was given the position, which he held for 34 of the 42 games in a season that saw Liverpool win their first championship for 24 years. Much of which is owed to Sidlow as the final game of the season was a must win for the Reds. Sidlow's former employers Wolves needed just a point to win the title and Liverpool had to face them at Molineux
. the Reds were a point back on their hosts and, needed a victory to win the league title. After a comprehensive 5-0 win at Anfield, Wolves were favourites to win the game and take the title, but goals from Jack Balmer
and Albert Stubbins
, plus Sidlow and the backline keeping Wolves down to one meant the Championship trophy would be heading to Merseyside
.
Sidlow tasted disappointment with the Reds too when they reached their first Wembley final in 1950, Arsenal
where the opposition who took the FA Cup
back to Highbury
after a 2-0 win.
Sidlow's Liverpool days were drawn to a close during the 1950/51 after he originally begun the season as first choice. Charlie Ahcroft and Russell Crossley took over for four games before Sidlow came back in to play his last match for the club, Anfield was the place and Newcastle United
were the visitors. Things didn't go well for Sidlow and the Reds as The Magpies
went back to St James' Park
with the points after a 4-2 win.
Crossley came back in to the side and Cyril retired in the August 1952, upon retirement from the top level, he went on to play for New Brighton
.
Cyril earned seven caps for Wales
during his career.
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
goalkeeper. He played for several clubs, most notably for Wolverhampton Wanderers
Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club that represents the city of Wolverhampton in the West Midlands region. They are members of the Premier League, the highest level of English football. The club was founded in 1877 and since 1889 has played at...
and Liverpool
Liverpool F.C.
Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups...
.
Life and playing career
Born in Colwyn BayColwyn Bay
- Demography :Prior to local government reorganisation on 1 April 1974 Colwyn Bay was a municipal borough with a population of c.25,000, but in 1974 this designation disappeared leaving five separate parishes, known as communities in Wales, of which the one bearing the name Colwyn Bay encompassed...
, Conwy
Conwy
Conwy is a walled market town and community in Conwy County Borough on the north coast of Wales. The town, which faces Deganwy across the River Conwy, formerly lay in Gwynedd and prior to that in Caernarfonshire. Conwy has a population of 14,208...
, North Wales
North Wales
North Wales is the northernmost unofficial region of Wales. It is bordered to the south by the counties of Ceredigion and Powys in Mid Wales and to the east by the counties of Shropshire in the West Midlands and Cheshire in North West England...
, Sidlow played for Llandudno, Colwyn Bay and Wolverhampton Wanderers
Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club that represents the city of Wolverhampton in the West Midlands region. They are members of the Premier League, the highest level of English football. The club was founded in 1877 and since 1889 has played at...
. Signed by Wolves in 1937 by the great Major Frank Buckley Sidlow was the first choice Wolves keeper both before the war. The rise of England great Bert Williams
Bert Williams
Egbert Austin "Bert" Williams was one of the preeminent entertainers of the Vaudeville era and one of the most popular comedians for all audiences of his time. He was by far the best-selling black recording artist before 1920...
at Wolves after the war limited his chances, this included a notable international match between England and Wales at Ninian Park where Wolves supplied both the England Keeper (Williams) and Welsh keeper (Sidlow). With Wolves having two international keepers this led to Sidlow being surplus to requirements, but a recognised international, Liverpool manager George Kay
George Kay
George Kay was an English football player and manager of Luton Town, Southampton and Liverpool.The highlight of his playing career was when he captained West Ham United in the first FA Cup final to be played at Wembley, the so-called White Horse Final.He was manager of Liverpool for 15 years and...
signed him for a then record £
Pound sterling
The pound sterling , commonly called the pound, is the official currency of the United Kingdom, its Crown Dependencies and the British Overseas Territories of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, British Antarctic Territory and Tristan da Cunha. It is subdivided into 100 pence...
4000 in February 1946. Sidlow made his debut for Liverpool on 31 August 1946 in a league match at Bramall Lane
Bramall Lane
-Cricket at the Lane:Bramall Lane opened as a cricket ground in 1855, having been leased by Michael Ellison from the Duke of Norfolk at an annual rent of £70. The site was then away from the town's industrial area, and relatively free from smoke. It was built to host the matches of local cricket...
, and kept his first clean sheet for the club, with Len Carney
Len Carney
Len Carney was an English professional footballer.-Career:Born in Liverpool, Carney played amateur football for Liverpool University, Northern Nomads, Marine and Collegiate Old Boys, before signing for Liverpool in 1939. After making 33 wartime appearances, Carney made his debut in the Football...
scoring a late goal for the Reds in the 90th minute.
Sidlow's career was curtailed because of the Second World War which began when he was approaching his 24th birthday, having taken away the best years of his career he was almost 31 when he signed for the Reds. Sidlow with Charlie Ashcroft
Charlie Ashcroft
Charlie Ashcroft was an English footballer.His first club was Eccleston Juniors, whom he left in May 1946 for Liverpool...
and Ray Minshull were the goalkeepers vying for the number one jersey at Anfield
Anfield
Anfield is an association football stadium in the district of Anfield, Liverpool, England, with a seating capacity of 45,522. It has been the home of Liverpool F.C. since their formation in 1892 and was originally the home of Everton F.C. from 1884 to 1892, before they moved to Goodison Park...
for the 1946/47 season; the first competitive season following the war. Even with the competition, Sidlow was given the position, which he held for 34 of the 42 games in a season that saw Liverpool win their first championship for 24 years. Much of which is owed to Sidlow as the final game of the season was a must win for the Reds. Sidlow's former employers Wolves needed just a point to win the title and Liverpool had to face them at Molineux
Molineux stadium
Molineux Stadium is a Premier League football stadium situated in Whitmore Reans, Wolverhampton, England. It has been the home ground of Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club since 1889, and has a long and illustrious history as the first 'new build' stadium in Football League history, one of the...
. the Reds were a point back on their hosts and, needed a victory to win the league title. After a comprehensive 5-0 win at Anfield, Wolves were favourites to win the game and take the title, but goals from Jack Balmer
Jack Balmer
Jack Balmer was a footballer who played Centre Forward, for Liverpool Football Club.-Life and playing career:...
and Albert Stubbins
Albert Stubbins
Albert Stubbins was an English footballer. He played in the position of centre forward, although his career was limited by the onset of World War II.-Life and playing career:...
, plus Sidlow and the backline keeping Wolves down to one meant the Championship trophy would be heading to Merseyside
Merseyside
Merseyside is a metropolitan county in North West England, with a population of 1,365,900. It encompasses the metropolitan area centred on both banks of the lower reaches of the Mersey Estuary, and comprises five metropolitan boroughs: Knowsley, St Helens, Sefton, Wirral, and the city of Liverpool...
.
Sidlow tasted disappointment with the Reds too when they reached their first Wembley final in 1950, Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
where the opposition who took the FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
back to Highbury
Arsenal Stadium
Arsenal Stadium was a football stadium in Highbury, North London, which was the home ground of Arsenal Football Club between 6 September 1913 and 7 May 2006...
after a 2-0 win.
Sidlow's Liverpool days were drawn to a close during the 1950/51 after he originally begun the season as first choice. Charlie Ahcroft and Russell Crossley took over for four games before Sidlow came back in to play his last match for the club, Anfield was the place and Newcastle United
Newcastle United F.C.
Newcastle United Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear. The club was founded in 1892 by the merger of Newcastle East End and Newcastle West End, and has played at its current home ground, St James' Park, since the merger...
were the visitors. Things didn't go well for Sidlow and the Reds as The Magpies
The Magpies
For disambiguation see Magpie The Magpies is the most famous poem by New Zealand poet Denis Glover . It helped define New Zealand's distinctive style of poetry...
went back to St James' Park
St James' Park
St James' Park, known for sponsorship reasons as the Sports Direct Arena, is an all-seater stadium in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. It is the home of Newcastle United Football Club and is the sixth largest football stadium in the United Kingdom with a capacity of between 52,387 and 52,409.St James'...
with the points after a 4-2 win.
Crossley came back in to the side and Cyril retired in the August 1952, upon retirement from the top level, he went on to play for New Brighton
New Brighton A.F.C.
-Revived club:New Brighton A.F.C. were reborn in 1993, and joined the Birkenhead and Wirral League, which they won in their first season. In 1995 the club switched to the South Wirral League. After upgrading their new ground, the club were admitted to the Second Division of the West Cheshire League...
.
Cyril earned seven caps for Wales
Wales national football team
The Wales national football team represents Wales in international football. It is controlled by the Football Association of Wales , the governing body for football in Wales, and the third oldest national football association in the world. The team have only qualified for a major international...
during his career.
Memorial
After his death his daughter sponsored a local award in Perton and Codsall, where her father lived until his death, to recognise local players achievements.Career details
- Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. (1937–1946)
- Liverpool F.C. (1946–1952) - 165 appearances - Football League Championship (level 1) winners medal (1947), FA Cup runners-up medal (1950)
- Wales 7 caps